Table of Contents
1 My long overdue introduction to Afternoon tea
“Whatever is worth doing at all, it is worth doing well. Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield.
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Afternoon tea is a British institution, much like fish & chips, Morris dancers and the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. It is so popular that hotels and restaurants up and down the land offer this much-cherished tradition of sandwiches, scones, pastries and of course tea. As somebody who likes all of the above, I have to confess I have never had a traditional afternoon tea, until today, that is. We are booked for afternoon tea at The Beaumont, the lovely 5-star hotel in the middle of Mayfair, London. I’ve waited this long, so why not do it in style?
2 How did it all start?
The tradition of afternoon tea is said to have originated in the early 19th century with Anna, the Duchess of Bedford. She introduced the idea of having a light meal and tea in the afternoon to satisfy her hunger between lunch and dinner. It soon became a fashionable and sociable activity among the upper class and symbolised British culture.
Nowadays, its fame has spread across the globe; however, it remains a very British institution.
3 Afternoon Tea
To guide me through this experience is my wife Leigh, a veteran of many afternoon teas, and I get the distinct impression that she is enjoying the fact that I’m a complete novice to the ritual of afternoon tea.
The Beaumont Hotel opened in 2014. The hotel looks as it has been here for years. This is a compliment, by the way. I’ve added a history to the hotel at the end of this article; you will never guess what it was in a former life.
The hotel has an impressive art-deco facade, but the inside is also so elegant with its chessboard entrance hall floor and panelled walls.
We were shown to our table in the Gatsby’s room for our afternoon tea.
Already, I was pleased with our choice; the room was lovely. It was not a small room but felt cosy with its beautiful fireplace and eclectic artwork hanging on the walls.
Judging by the fact that most tables were occupied, The Beaumont is a popular choice for afternoon tea. It was great to see the room filled,
Once seated, we were presented with a menu. Even in an afternoon tea, there are decisions to be made. Principally, what tea to choose and a far easier choice would we like a glass of bubbles?
A delightful appetiser arrived: a Green tomato Gazpacho served in a glass, just enough to tickle the taste buds.
Then the sparkling wine was served in lovely glasses; I called them Babycham style of glass; at this point, I’ve now given away that I’m from a certain era; however, Mr Google informs me they are actually called a coupe. The danger with a “coupe” glass is that it is very easy to spill your bubbles down your front; I found the secret to keeping your shirt dry is to take small sips. Perhaps they were designed to with this purpose in mind.
I should mention that a Vegan and children’s menu and an impressive cocktail and speciality tea menu are available. All menus are on The Beaumonts website.
Tea
We followed a handy tip from our waiter, who recommended we start with a black tea, I went for the Darjeeling and then moved on to a green tea to accompany the sweet section. His advice was spot on.
Sandwiches
I love a sandwich, and the sandwiches served at The Beaumont were exceptional, a little bit of happiness in every bite. Also, a nice touch: they asked you if you wanted more sandwiches when you finished. I had decided to be good and save myself for the rest of the tea. However, I somehow translated “no thanks” to “yes please” when asked.
Scones
I told a friend I was going to an afternoon tea, and she asked me how I would take my scones. Would I have it the Cornish way, Jam first & clotted cream on top or go with the way served in Devon cream first & jam on top?
This argument has been raging for years between the two counties, so I decided to put both arguments to the test.
At the risk of upsetting my Cornish friends, I came down on the side of the Devonians, but in fairness, I happily eat scones either way.
Pastries
The Four pastries sat on the top of the silver cake stand, looking at us throughout our afternoon tea, waiting until it was their turn. At this point, a big shout out to the pastry chef(s), as this quartet of beauties looked stunning.
We both agreed the caramelised apple tasted like a mini tart tatin; the chocolate work on the brownie was incredible, with the shine on the chocolate matching that of the gleam on the entrance hall’s tiles.
Sadly, that was it, and it was time to finish up our last mouthfuls of tea and leave. Our afternoon Tea at The Beaumont Hotel is over. We leave with no doubt afternoon tea is a great British tradition and that has got down to a tee with us -sorry, I could not resist that. The service and setting matched the culinary expertise.
Going back to the origins of afternoon tea, the Duchess of Bedford must have had some appetite as we left nicely full and could only manage a very small snack that evening.
As promised, a concise history of The Beaumont Hotel
4 History of The Beaumont Hotel
The Beaumont Hotel has a captivating history that adds to its unique charm. Situated within a Grade II listed Art Deco building, this beautiful establishment had quite a different purpose in its earlier days. Back in the 1920s, it was originally conceived as Macy’s Garage, serving as a car parking garage and petrol station. The architects Wimperis & Simpson took a departure from the typical industrial appearance of garages at the time, opting for a neo-classical style. Their design featured brick walls rendered in ‘Atlas White’ Portland cement, and the internal structure was a sturdy blend of concrete and steel, with windows adorned by metal frames.
In 2011, the Corbin & King restaurant group acquired the building with a vision to transform it into a hotel that could evoke the elegance and personalized hospitality of pre-war Mayfair. To bring this vision to life, they enlisted the talents of interior designer Thierry Despont. His work on The Beaumont Hotel is a stunning fusion of classic and contemporary materials, resulting in a timeless and inviting atmosphere. The hotel’s public areas are adorned with a rich palette of colors, polished walnut finishes, bronze panthers, and captivating black-and-white photographs from the Roaring Twenties.
Opening its doors to guests in 2014, The Beaumont Hotel quickly earned a reputation as one of London’s most sought-after destinations. It’s renowned for its exceptional levels of personalised service, elegant design, and prime location in the heart of Mayfair.
Adding to its unique appeal, in 2014, the acclaimed British sculptor Antony Gormley designed a room known as “ROOM.” This room is a cast of Gormley’s own body and can be found in the hotel’s courtyard. It’s open to the public and has become one of the most popular attractions at the hotel.
The Beaumont Hotel offers a truly special and luxurious experience steeped in history. It’s a place where guests can savour the best of British hospitality within an iconic setting, making every stay a memorable one.
8 Balderton St, Brown Hart Gardens, London W1K 6TF
Review, Thursday 12th October
If you enjoyed reading about The Beaumont Hotel you might enjoy reading about Le Magritte, the iconic bar in the Beaumont
